Morel mushroom season underway in Ohio. Where are the best spots to find them? Use this map

Morel mushroom season is just getting started in Ohio, with the warmer spring weather bringing them out of the soil in forests across the state.

If you're on the hunt for these difficult-to-find delicacies, here's what you should know before heading into the woods.

When is morel mushroom season in Ohio?

Morels can be found in Ohio from mid-April through mid-May, according to Kelly Schott of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife. In a video, Schott says morels start sprouting in April in southern Ohio and the beginning of May for northern Ohio, when the warmer spring weather arrives.

Nationwide, morels can be found in most states from March through May, according to Farm and Dairy.

Where to find morel mushrooms?

Morels need loose soil, high humidity and decaying vegetation in land along rivers, streams or other bodies of water (riparian zones), according to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. However, they also will grow in ravines or woodlands not close to water.

Schott says a common tip is to look for dead ash or elm trees to find morels.

In Ohio, many state parks permit mushroom hunting, according to ODNR, however, special rules apply. Also, mushroom collectors on state park land are not permitted to be off the trail when foraging. ODNR recommends contacting the park office where to plan to forage to learn more.

According to ODNR's "find a destination" search feature, seven areas are tagged for mushroom hunting:

• Great Seal State Park
• Burr Oak State Park
• Lake Alma State Park
• Brush Creek State Forest
• Shawnee State Forest
• Harrison State Forest
• Maumee State Forest

Beware of false morel poisoning. How to identify morels

Morels are very distinctive, Schott says, with a honeycomb-like top and a hollow stem.

However, false morels exist and can cause illness or death, according to Farm and Dairy. False morels have a lumpy cap that resembles a brain, with a folded or wrinkled surface. The caps of true morels have pits and ridges. False morel caps are black, brown, gray, white or reddish. Also, while the stems of true morels are hollow, false morels are not. They have pale, chambered flesh inside.

The Ohio State University Extension has a photo of false morels beside true morels.

Morel mushroom map for 2024

The Great Morel has another tool for mushroom hunters -- an interactive map that details when and where morels have been found in Ohio and across the country, based on user-submitted reports. According to that map, the earliest morel sighting in Ohio this year was on March 12 in Cambridge.

How to harvest morel mushrooms

To pick morels, Schott says to pinch them off at base, leaving the root in the ground. This allows the mycelium, the root of the morel fungus, to live on and sprout more morels in future years.

Freezing morel mushrooms? How to clean and store

To clean morels, Foraged recommends gently wiping with a damp cloth to remove the dirt and the rinsing thoroughly under cold water. Then place on a towel and gently pat to dry. Schott says she cuts morels in half to ensure there are no insects inside the hollow stem.

To store morels for a few days, place them in a paper bag or breathable cloth bag with a damp paper towel and place in your crisper drawer, according to Foraged. They can also be frozen. To freeze, let them dry completely and, in a single layer on a baking sheet, place in the freezer for a few hours. Once frozen solid, transfer the morels to a freezer bag.

What do morels taste like? How to cook a morel

Morels have a subtle texture and taste, according to Simply Recipies, that's described as earthy, woodsy and nutty. They are unlike mushrooms like cremini and portabella that have a meaty flavor when cooked.

According to Midwest Living, sautéing morels in butter is a purist's method to prepare them. But the site offers nine other recipes as well.

Schott says she fries them with onions and serves them with venison or wild turkey.

Recipes that use morels can be found all over the internet, from All Recipes to Bon Appétit and NYT Cooking.